Is Contraception the New Obamacare Battlefield?

More than 60 separate court cases have been filed by individuals, companies, and organizations across the country arguing that the Affordable Care Act will force them to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. Obamacare’s mandate that will bring insurance coverage to Americans via state-run and federally-run small business exchanges will require 20 different contraceptive methods to be included in the various plans sold on the online marketplaces.

In a case brought by the Christian owners of a chain of hobby and book stores, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled that requiring certain contraceptives to be made available under the mandated health coverage of Obamacare would substantially burden their religious rights. But, while the court ruled that Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby Stores and Mardel Inc., as well as its owners the Green family, had a valid claim under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a majority of judges on the court declined to approve an injunction that would allow the company an exemption from paying for contraceptive methods.

Instead, the court sent the case back to a federal judge to determine whether an injunction should be issued to protect the rights of those who find paying for contraceptive methods religiously offensive.